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My Fave-5 Blogs

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life update

The couch is comfy, but that comfy feeling is only concealing regret. Get up and do things. You don’t have to go cross-country to have a ball (though it definitely helps). Make the most of every Saturday by checking out museums, parks, and other wacky things.

Take the chance. Life is short. Sometimes the chance comes with risk: like going on a date with an islander in a foreign country (okay, so he was a Canadian and I’m not sure that counts, but still) or putting your heart on the line with a friend. Neither of those ventures panned out for me, but that’s okay. Sometimes chance rides side-saddle with pain. Sometimes it runs free-spirited with rewards.

Laugh. Actually, make appointments for it. John Crist and Tim Hawkins comedy shows undid more emotional damage than all my therapy sessions combined.

Go to the doctor. It’s a hassle, a definitive nuisance, but regular check-ups save lives. Don’t be a missed diagnosis because you were too busy building a life to care for it.

Jump on a fandom bandwagon. They’re a great deal of fun. Just don’t become obsessed. No matter how entertaining the fandom is, it can’t possibly replace the sheer ecstatic of worshiping our Savior.

Meet new people. The process is uncomfortable, but it’s also fascinating. Their stories will fuel your own.

Celebrate people. Not everyone is going to be in your life forever, so celebrate them while they are still around you.

Keep standing for what you believe in, even if it makes people mad at you. But be nice about it. You don’t have to tear down the beliefs of others to demonstrate your own.

Be a Christian before you are an American. Your country is amazing, your eternity is better. It’s okay to care about the state of affairs, but if your American beliefs begin to overrule your Christian beliefs, who is truly your god? So just shut up more often and love like Christ did, even if it lands you on a cross. And by the way, if it does, carry the thing. Pray for the souls who gave it to you. Don’t nail them to it instead.

You’re required to try at least once, even twice, but then you’re allowed to walk away. If someone is hurting you, and they repeatedly disregard your attempts to kindly bring the situation back on track, you are allowed to walk away.

Explore your own backyard. Adventures are still adventures, even when they’re just in your state or just in your city or just in your backyard.

There is a literal devil on your shoulder. Beat the crap out of him.

Finance support groups are fun. Yeah the discussion is about money (and usually how we’re failing with it), but at least we’re talking. We’re being vulnerable and sharing our dreams and aspirations. It’s beautiful.

Don’t waste your time envying the gifts of others. God has painted unique strengths on you to perfectly fit your piece of His puzzle, so perfectly that the seam is invisible. Don’t screw the puzzle up by trying to duplicate the piece next to you. There are nooks and crannies you were never meant to fit, and there are nooks and crannies that desperately need you.

There’s not much to glean from TV. Books, however, are a rich source of inspiration and knowledge. That said, you don’t have to collect them. A bookshelf can very quickly become a source of guilt instead of inspiration.

When nostalgia hits and you forget all the why not’s, force yourself to sit back and do and say nothing until the wave goes away and sanity returns.

Take time to remember. Go through your photo album, read old blog posts, scroll through old timelines. Remember who you were, where you were; use remembering as fuel for planning.

You are the only one preventing you from anything. You want to dance in public? Dance. You want to learn a language? Learn. You want to adventure? Adventure. Stop complaining and just do it already.

People will never live up to your expectations. You will get hurt, and it will happen every single time. Yes, sometimes it will cut you like a knife, and you will bleed and ache and cry. But don’t stop expecting. Without expectations, there is nothing to keep us striving to be and do and believe better. Lord knows you are relying on others to expect greatness of you.

Except in the case of Heaven, the journey, the anticipation, is always better than the destination. And that’s okay. After all, you were designed to be just passing through.

Well, I’ve really been at it and have successfully wowed myself with the amount of stuff I’ve been able to bid adieu. So far, I’ve let go of 89 items and have plans to part with another 14 in the near future. I’m sure these numbers will continue to rise as I move along.

Goodbye,

(3) Steel Measuring Cups

Measuring Spoons on a Ring

Large Soup Pot

Casserole Pan

Bread Pan

(3) Mugs

Steak knife

(3) Butter Knives

(2) Forks

(2) Spoons

Serving Spoon

Potato Masher

(2) Plates

(2) Bowls

Wooden Bowl

(2) Mini-Tupperware w/ Lids

Cleaning Supplies Basket

Cleaning Supplies Bag

(2) Hot Pads

(2) Vases

Scrubbie

Pencil

(2) Pens

Coffee Jar

(5) Hangers

(3) Pairs of Socks

Scarf

(2) Journals

Book

Skirt

(6) Bits & Bobs

Lamp

Photo Album

Broom w/ Dust Pan

Drying Rack

Exercise Band

Wrist Brace

Board Game

Anne of Green Gables DVD Boxset

Screwdriver

Large Bathroom Bag for Travel

Laptop Sleeve

Wooden Chest

Diploma Case

Bible

Pocketwatch

Envelope of Paper Memories

Blanket

Easter Drama DVD Recording

Shipping Supplies

Extra Nokia Smart Watch Band

(2) ACE Bandages

Thermometer

Snow Brush

Ice Scraper

(2) Storage Bins

(2) Reusable Grocery Bags

(2) Sunglasses

I can’t say that I’ll miss ya.

The other fourteen things I plan to let go of are sticking around until I use up what’s in ’em, or purchase the thing(s) that will let me downsize them.

2 Lamps and a Coffee Table in my living room will be replaced with 2 Lamps w/ Built in Shelves = 1 item purged

Spice Rack needs emptied/eaten up = 1 item purged

Mason Jars and one recycled Pickle Jar that hold food/cleaning/hygiene stuff in them (which I never use) will either be intentionally used or emptied and donated by 9/31 = 4 items purged

1 Lamp and a Charging Station Table will be replaced with 1 Lamp w/ Built in Shelves = 1 item purged

Books that will be read by 9/31 or parted with = 3 items purged

Scale will bid adieu after my monthly passes and I get a final weigh-in (then I will force myself to stop obsessing and just build healthier habits in general) = 1 item purged

Extra new toothbrushes that will be in use and/or given to someone else by 9/31 = 2 items purged

Shower curtain and liner will be replaced with a mildew-resistant curtain that can act as both = 1 item purged

So what’s left?

I’ve decided to start and maintain a page on my blog that lists out everything I own (you can check it out here). This may seem a bit “extra” (okay it’s a lot extra, but whatever, it’s my life), but I think the hassle of having to add stuff will easily conquer any urges to rebuild the hoard.

That said, going through everything I own again has also showed me something very important: a lot of my stuff is fairly worn out and needs replaced, and there are some gaps that I should probably get around to filling.

So I’ve started an “Approved Shopping List” of items that I need to get to help with the above downsizing, and to help fill the gaps. You’ll see what I mean when you read it.

Well, I’ve finally done it. I’ve been obsessing over the idea for well over a year at this point, and I finally woman-ed up and just did it.

I cancelled Netflix.

I cancelled Amazon Prime.

I cancelled WiFi.

My connection to the last of these will be terminated on the 15th of the month, in T-minus seven days.

Starting on the 15th of the month, I will no longer be a Netflix-binger, online-window-shopper, or internet-user in general.

At least for the foreseeable future.

At least until January.

Rather, I’m hoping I can make it that long.

Here’s the thing: my productivity levels at home su-uuuuck. Once I’m home, I’m basically done for the day. I turn on the TV, select a Netflix show, and promptly become a mindless zombie.

I can’t even be bothered to respond to texts; how dare they interrupt my solace.

I once read that a study was done on people who watched TV – they came out literally dumber than before the episode or binge or whatever. I don’t remember where or when I read that, but it has stuck with me for ages. And I’m probably imagining this to some extent, but I feel dumber lately.

When I was 16, I was working two part-time jobs and going to two colleges full-time. I was exhausted. But, like, a good exhausted. The kind you feel when you know you’ve used up every bit of energy your brain and body can produce for the day.

Now I feel bad exhausted.. pretty much all the time. The kind you feel when you have a mountain of to-dos and spend three hours binging Friends rather than completing even a single task. The kind you feel when you’ve been a zombie for so long that you struggle to get creative juices flowing, juices that used to flow freely and allow you to bang out a 5-page essay in 20-30 minutes.

I’m hoping this exercise in unplugging will make me so. stinking. bored. that I actually want to tackle that mountainous task list.

I need fewer distractions and temptations to waste my life, and by getting rid of WiFi in my apartment, I’m getting rid of almost all of them.

Thanks to the recent declutter, I don’t own much in the way of entertainment. My books are purged down to just a Bible and 3-4 non-fiction books I’ve been meaning to get to for ages. My collection of movies is downsized to 3 – the Anne of Green Gables series. I have a handful of games and five partially empty notebooks. I’ve got an iPad, MacBook, and iPhone. Oh, and a keyboard.

All of these things are generally ignored in favor of Netflix or YouTube or window shopping on Amazon.

Getting rid of WiFi is getting rid of pretty much everything I do in my free time.

And this idea thrills me.

A world with no old habits to fill the time is a world of endless possibilities.

Who knows what I’ll do first.

I imagine I’ll catch up on sleep again, and maybe finally read those books. I’ll probably get outside more and call friends more and study the Word more. I’ll probably goof off on the keyboard and spend focused energy on developing my vocal range. Maybe I’ll finally get around to experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. Maybe I’ll go on more adventures to local museums or random far off places. Oh, oh – I might even become a consistent blogger (aaah ha)! After all, there’s nothing else to do.

Just to clarify for the nay-sayers: I’m not cutting the internet or entertainment out of my life entirely.

This should be obvious since my job is 100% an online gig.

Also, as I said, I have an iPhone which has data which means internet. And there’s no way on earth I’m giving up my GPS, the ability to check open/close times of businesses, or an opportunity to fact-check people in the middle of a conversation (because yes, I’m one of those annoying people who has to fact-check EVERYTHING).

I can even use the internet for other things if I should so desire, just not at home.

There’s a Starbucks with great indoor and outdoor seating areas and free WiFi less than a mile away. I’ve got a MoviePass membership (that will soon be swapped for the AMC membership because MoviePass just passed a bunch of new policies that are complete suckage) that I will use to enjoy the frequent theater experience. I have a DVD player and a library card. My iPad is already filling up with books I want to read, and my phone is overwhelmed with Podcasts I intend to listen to on long evening walks. I also have Ronnie, my delightful car that is more anxious to hit the roads than I am.

The point is: I want to make distractions harder to get to; I want to make them a reward, rather than my norm.